Criteria for judges released

THE Judicial Service Commission (JSC) yesterday released a set of criteria by which it considers judicial appointments, saying the appointment process should be "open and transparent".

The criteria should provide the public with an objective way of evaluating the work of the commission. The release of the criteria followed a "lengthy debate" at a special JSC sitting last week.

The criteria were essentially a summary of guidelines adopted in 1998 under former chief justice Ismail Mahomed, said JSC spokesman Dumisa Ntsebeza SC.

Mr Ntsebeza said in the debate both Justice Mahomed and former chief justice Arthur Chaskalson had taken a view that there was a constitutional imperative that the judiciary must reflect SA's demographics in terms of race and gender.

The criteria are divided into two categories: those in the constitution and supplementary criteria. The constitutional criteria are that applicants should be fit and proper and appropriately qualified. The JSC must also ask whether the appointment would "help to reflect the racial and gender composition of SA".

The supplementary criteria include being a person of integrity and having the necessary energy and motivation . They also include competence and experience, in technical respects but also the "capacity to give expression to the values of the constitution" and "experience in regard to values and needs of the community".

THE Judicial Service Commission (JSC) yesterday released a set of criteria by which it considers judicial appointments, saying the appointment process should be "open and transparent".

The criteria should provide the public with an objective way of evaluating the work of the commission. The release of the criteria followed a "lengthy debate" at a special JSC sitting last week.

The criteria were essentially a summary of guidelines adopted in 1998 under former chief justice Ismail Mahomed, said JSC spokesman Dumisa Ntsebeza SC.

Mr Ntsebeza said in the debate both Justice Mahomed and former chief justice Arthur Chaskalson had taken a view that there was a constitutional imperative that the judiciary must reflect SA's demographics in terms of race and gender.

The criteria are divided into two categories: those in the constitution and supplementary criteria. The constitutional criteria are that applicants should be fit and proper and appropriately qualified. The JSC must also ask whether the appointment would "help to reflect the racial and gender composition of SA".

The supplementary criteria include being a person of integrity and having the necessary energy and motivation . They also include competence and experience, in technical respects but also the "capacity to give expression to the values of the constitution" and "experience in regard to values and needs of the community".

Network Sites

Tools & Services

News Updates

Times Media (Pty) Ltd disclaims all liability for any loss, damage, injury or expense however caused, arising from the use of or reliance upon, in any manner, the information provided through this service and does not warrant the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information provided.

My News

You can only set up or view personalised news headlines when you are logged in as a registered user. Thereafter you can choose the sectors of industry in which you are interested, and the latest articles from those sectors will display in this area of your console.

You can only set up or view your share watchlist when you are logged in as a registered user. Thereafter you can select a list of companies and enter your share details to monitor their performance.

My Clippings

You can only clip articles when you are logged in as a registered user. Thereafter you can click on the "Read later" icon at the top of an article to save it to this area of your console, where you can return to read it at any time.